Esther appears before the king and is accepted; she invites him and Hama to a banquet. Haman revels in his pride but out of hatred plots Mordecai’s death.

• The expression “to half of the kingdom” (v. 3) isn’t to be taken literally. What is his point by saying this?
• In verses 9–14, what was Haman like? What made him happy and satisfied?